I live in the Mile End & work downtown, so I've walked past Aldea, probably hundreds of times since it opened, & I was always intrigued by the inviting elegance of the decor, & what seemed to be really beautiful plates as I saw them through their generous floor-to-ceiling windows as I passed. Finally, I decided to take advantage of a rare evening off from the restaurant I manage to try it, & I am beyond glad that I did.
Honestly, one of the best dining experiences I've had in Montreal. This place is a gem.
The key to the whole thing, & the thread that pervaded our entire experience, is attention to detail. & it begins as soon as you walk in the building. The room is simply & tastefully decorated, with a cozy, but modern ambience. The furnishing is stylish without sacrificing comfort. Before you order a single thing, you're already glad you came. Even the washrooms were spotless on a level I've seldom seen.
My boyfriend doesn't drink, so I just ordered a half litre of the house red for my self & was pleasantly surprised by the quality. It robust & fruit forward, with a nice little tannic zip - not the flabby offering you get from most places as "vin maison". He & I both opted for the Table d'Hote, though we were certainly tempted by the ample selection of tasty-sounding tapas. Ranging from $30-42 for three courses, the price point is reasonable on its face, however once you see what you get it's incredible.
We were presented with a basket of fresh-to-the day Portuguese crusty rolls & sliced cornbread, & a lovely unexpected amuse bouche of meatball (done in a still reminiscent of brandade) with a spicy mayo. We ordered a queso fresco & tomato salad on top of the fixed menu offering, & it came out simple, fresh, & tasty - exactly what you'd hope for from a dish of this kind.
Soon after we finished that our Table d'Hote appetizers arrived - Lisbon Shrimp for me, & the chef's salad for my co-diner. The salad was dressed in a light vinagrette, garnished with strawberries & some cressons (which was a nice touch), & the shrimp . . . my goodness; large, flavourful without being fishy, & steeped in a stunning rose-type sauce (I detected red pepper & paprika notes, but I could be wrong. It was so delicious I wiped every spare drop out of the bowl.
By this point, everything had been so delightful, we couldn't wait for the mains, & they didn't disappoint. My veal chop was huge (at least 10-12oz) & cooked to a perfect medium, with traditional Portuguese style roast potatoes, & sauteed asparagus & broccolini. It was lightly seasoned, with the perfect amount of char. If I did it over again, I might try to get a side of the sauce from the shrimp appetizer, but that's more a testament to how amazing that was, rather than an indication the chop was in any way lacking flavour. My partner had the Filet Mignon & Jumbo Shrimp skewer, which also came cooked to perfection. They shrimp had taken just enough grill fire to benefit from the flavour, but still maintained a nice soft texture inside, & the steak pieces were tender & juicy. His dish came with the same vegetable mix, but with chip cut potatoes, in place of the larger roasted potatoes I received. He loved them, & finished each & every one, despite rapidly becoming full from the generous portions.
The presentation of the plates was fantastic, & every time a new plate arrived at one of the adjacent tables we were following it with our eyes, planning what to order on our next visit. The Giant Shrimp plate, Seared Cod, & Octopus we saw all looked mouth watering, & we were wishing we'd brought a few more people so we could sample them all.
We finished off with a nice homemade chocolate mousse (which was elevated by stirring a couple spoonfuls of my espresso into it), & a classic creme caramel. We had to stop ourselves from licking the plate clean.
From a service standpoint, we couldn't really have asked for me. We were assisted by two veteran waiters, who were polished, without being pretentious, & friendly without being intrusive. There is an open kitchen, so we also had the opportunity to thank the cooks who prepared such a formidable meal.
Aldea offers what are very much traditional style Portuguese dishes. They are not seeking to re-invent the wheel, but have clearly focused on freshness, quality, & careful preparation to elevate the fare over establishements offering similar cuisine (which are ample in the quartier). For my purposes, I know I will be back, & would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone, whether for a special occasion, important date, or just a really well-executed meal in a gorgeous, intimate dining room.
Again, in a city with such a diversity of offerings, this was one of the most satisfying overall experiences I've had, & it will be one of a small handful of go-to restaurants for me moving forward.
